Page 115 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

company at the Blue Boar Inn, instead of going straight to
Ancaster. So, being vexed to his heart by this, he set forth at
dawn of day to seek Little John at the Blue Boar, or at least to
meet the yeoman on the way, and ease his heart of what he
thought of the matter. As thus he strode along in anger, put-
ting together the words he would use to chide Little John,
he heard, of a sudden, loud and angry voices, as of men in a
rage, passing fell words back and forth from one to the oth-
er. At this, Robin Hood stopped and listened. ‘Surely,’ quoth
he to himself, ‘that is Little John’s voice, and he is talking in
anger also. Methinks the other is strange to my ears. Now
Heaven forfend that my good trusty Little John should have
fallen into the hands of the King’s rangers. I must see to this
matter, and that quickly.’
Thus spoke Robin Hood to himself, all his anger passing
away like a breath from the windowpane, at the thought
that perhaps his trusty right-hand man was in some danger
of his life. So cautiously he made his way through the thick-
ets whence the voices came, and, pushing aside the leaves,
peeped into the little open space where the two men, staff
in hand, were coming slowly together.
‘Ha!’ quoth Robin to himself, ‘here is merry sport afoot.
Now I would give three golden angels from my own pock-
et if yon stout fellow would give Little John a right sound
drubbing! It would please me to see him well thumped for
having failed in my bidding. I fear me, though, there is but
poor chance of my seeing such a pleasant sight.’ So saying,
he stretched himself at length upon the ground, that he
might not only see the sport the better, but that he might

11 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood